DescriptionA family with a terminally ill child has a child that has an incurable disease. However, although it is incurable it is still treatable and the child may live for several years.
Common ProblemsWhen there is a sick child in the family, it can wear the parents out trying to care for that child. They tend to spend all their time and energy on the ill child, but when there are other children in the house it is important to focus on them as well. It is common that the siblings get neglected and they start to act out. Not only are they not getting any attention themselves, but they are also upset and worried about their sibling. It is also common that parents hide information from their children. This can also upset them and cause problems because they normally have a sense of what is going on and look to their parents to confirm it. It is important that the parents tell them what is happening and encourage them to ask questions and express their feelings.
Statistics
Each year there are about 12,400 children between the ages 0 to 19 years diagnosed with cancer.
There is 5 year survival rate of childhood cancer at 80%.
Terminally ill children may develop learning disabilities from missing so much school.
ParentsIt is important to understand that although your child's illness is uncurable, it is not untreatable. Some children can live for months or years after being given a terminal diagnosis.Parents play a very important role in giving their child a fulfilling and comfortable life. It is good to have your child continue going to school as often as they are able to help them to feel some normalcy in their life. It is important to explaing the illness to all your children so that they can understand what is going on. It is also good to encourage your children to express their emotions instead of bottling them up. If you have other children as well, it is important to spend time with them as well so they don't feel like everything focuses on their brother or sister. Encourage your child to keep up with their school work and allow them to have friends over to visit if they were unable to attend school that day.
StudentsExplaining bad news to children is very hard for adults. They want you to know, but they don't want you to feel the pain or worry that they do. When you find out you or someone you know is dying, it is very upsetting. Try not to be angry if you are not happy about the way you found out because the adults were just trying to protect you. If your classmate is in the hospital or is not feeling well enough to come to school, ask the teacher if you can give him a get well card or see if you could visit them at their house.
TeachersFor a terminally ill childs, school can be a way of adding some normality to their lives. Doing well in school may give them a sense of achievement and can help them focus on living rather than dying. It is best if th parents and the teachers decide together how to share the news to the pupils, and it is best to tell them all. If you just tell the students friends, then rumors will spread. It is best that everyone knows the truth. Usually they are very supportive and it helps to have the class rotate roles to help the child such as wheelchair pushing.It is important to continue to expect the usual standards of behavior with the ill student. This will help the child feel more normal and also lessen the classes feelings about favoritism. It is also important to focus on the child's siblings. School for them is a place away from their emotionally charged home, and it is important for them to get attention. At home most of the attention may be focused on the ill child and the sibilings may get pushed to the side. It is very important to keep up communication with the student's parents and try to find ways to get the child's homework to them. Also involve the students by making him/her get well presents and other things to entertain the child when he/she is unable to attend school.
DescriptionA family with a terminally ill child has a child that has an incurable disease. However, although it is incurable it is still treatable and the child may live for several years.
Common ProblemsWhen there is a sick child in the family, it can wear the parents out trying to care for that child. They tend to spend all their time and energy on the ill child, but when there are other children in the house it is important to focus on them as well. It is common that the siblings get neglected and they start to act out. Not only are they not getting any attention themselves, but they are also upset and worried about their sibling. It is also common that parents hide information from their children. This can also upset them and cause problems because they normally have a sense of what is going on and look to their parents to confirm it. It is important that the parents tell them what is happening and encourage them to ask questions and express their feelings.
Statistics
ParentsIt is important to understand that although your child's illness is uncurable, it is not untreatable. Some children can live for months or years after being given a terminal diagnosis.Parents play a very important role in giving their child a fulfilling and comfortable life. It is good to have your child continue going to school as often as they are able to help them to feel some normalcy in their life. It is important to explaing the illness to all your children so that they can understand what is going on. It is also good to encourage your children to express their emotions instead of bottling them up. If you have other children as well, it is important to spend time with them as well so they don't feel like everything focuses on their brother or sister. Encourage your child to keep up with their school work and allow them to have friends over to visit if they were unable to attend school that day.
StudentsExplaining bad news to children is very hard for adults. They want you to know, but they don't want you to feel the pain or worry that they do. When you find out you or someone you know is dying, it is very upsetting. Try not to be angry if you are not happy about the way you found out because the adults were just trying to protect you. If your classmate is in the hospital or is not feeling well enough to come to school, ask the teacher if you can give him a get well card or see if you could visit them at their house.
TeachersFor a terminally ill childs, school can be a way of adding some normality to their lives. Doing well in school may give them a sense of achievement and can help them focus on living rather than dying. It is best if th parents and the teachers decide together how to share the news to the pupils, and it is best to tell them all. If you just tell the students friends, then rumors will spread. It is best that everyone knows the truth. Usually they are very supportive and it helps to have the class rotate roles to help the child such as wheelchair pushing.It is important to continue to expect the usual standards of behavior with the ill student. This will help the child feel more normal and also lessen the classes feelings about favoritism. It is also important to focus on the child's siblings. School for them is a place away from their emotionally charged home, and it is important for them to get attention. At home most of the attention may be focused on the ill child and the sibilings may get pushed to the side. It is very important to keep up communication with the student's parents and try to find ways to get the child's homework to them. Also involve the students by making him/her get well presents and other things to entertain the child when he/she is unable to attend school.
Sources
http://www.childbereavement.org.uk/for_schools/terminally_ill_children_at_school
http://www.cancer.net/patient/Coping/End-of-Life+Care/Caring+for+a+Terminally+Ill+Child%3A+A+Guide+for+Parents
http://www.terminalillness.co.uk/helping-kids-with-a-terminally-ill-sibling.html
http://www.onconurse.com/factsheets/child_can_school.html
http://www.candlelighters.org/Information/AboutChildhoodCancer/ChildhoodCancerStatistics.aspx